Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner's Guide

54 Pages·2013·1.04 MB·English

by  Michael Miller

Wireless
Networking
Michael Miller
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner’s Guide Editor-in-Chief
Greg Wiegand
Copyright © 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a Executive Editor
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or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use
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of the information contained herein.
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ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5078-5
ISBN-10: 0-7897-5078-3 Mandie Frank
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Printed in the United States of America
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First Printing: February 2013
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Contents at a Glance
Introduction ................................................................................................1
Part I Getting to Know Wireless Networking
1 How Networks Work ..................................................................................7
2 How Wi-Fi Works ......................................................................................29
3 How Bluetooth Works ..............................................................................45
4 How Mobile Networks Work ...................................................................55
Part II Setting Up a Wireless Network
5 Planning Your Network and Purchasing Equipment ............................67
6 Installing a Wireless Router .....................................................................85
7 Connecting to the Internet ...................................................................101
8 Extending Your Network in a Larger Home or Office........................113
9 Connecting Devices via Ethernet .........................................................121
10 Securing Devices on Your Network .....................................................131
Part III Connecting Devices to Your Network
11 Connecting Home Computers .............................................................147
12 Connecting a Home Server ...................................................................163
13 Connecting Videogame Devices ..........................................................173
14 Connecting Other Entertainment Devices ..........................................187
15 Connecting Smartphones and Tablets ................................................199
Part IV Using Your Wireless Network
16 Sharing Printers and Other Devices .....................................................213
17 Sharing and Transferring Files ..............................................................227
18 Streaming Audio and Video .................................................................245
19 Troubleshooting Network Problems ....................................................279
Part V Connecting Wirelessly Outside the Home
20 Connecting to Wi-Fi Hotspots ..............................................................303
21 Connecting in Your Car .........................................................................317
Index ........................................................................................................329
iv
Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................1
How This Book Is Organized ....................................................................................3
Conventions Used in This Book ...............................................................................4
Windows or Mac? .................................................................................................4
Web Page Addresses ...........................................................................................4
Products and Services ..........................................................................................4
Special Elements ..................................................................................................4
Let Me Know What You Think .................................................................................5
I Getting to Know Wireless Networking
1 How Networks Work ...............................................................................................7
Why You Need a Home Network ............................................................................8
Sharing the Internet .............................................................................................8
Streaming Movies and Music ..............................................................................9
Sharing Media .....................................................................................................10
Sharing and Backing Up Files ...........................................................................11
Sharing Printers and Other Equipment ............................................................13
Cutting the Cable ...............................................................................................15
Playing Games Online .......................................................................................16
Understanding Network Technology ....................................................................17
LANs and WANs .................................................................................................17
Connecting Things to Your Network ...............................................................18
Connecting Everything Together .....................................................................19
Transferring Data over the Network .................................................................20
Understanding Network Addresses .................................................................22
Different Ways to Connect .....................................................................................23
Connecting via Ethernet ....................................................................................24
Connecting via Powerline ..................................................................................24
Connecting via Wi-Fi ..........................................................................................25
What Type of Network Is Best for You? ................................................................26
2 How Wi-Fi Works ...................................................................................................29
Understanding Wireless Network Technology .....................................................30
Bands on the Radio ............................................................................................30
Routing the Signals ............................................................................................32
v
Alphabet Soup: The Different Wi-Fi Standards ...................................................33
802.11 (Legacy)...................................................................................................36
802.11b ...............................................................................................................36
802.11a ................................................................................................................36
802.11g ...............................................................................................................36
802.11n ................................................................................................................37
802.11ac (Gigabit Wi-Fi) ....................................................................................38
802.11ad (WiGig) ...............................................................................................39
Wide-Area Wi-Fi .................................................................................................39
Which Wi-Fi Is Right for You? ................................................................................40
3 How Bluetooth Works ...........................................................................................45
Understanding Bluetooth Wireless ........................................................................46
What Bluetooth Does ........................................................................................46
How Bluetooth Does It ......................................................................................47
Synchronizing, Automatically ............................................................................47
Bluetooth in Action .................................................................................................48
How Bluetooth Is Used Today ...............................................................................50
Computer Equipment ........................................................................................50
Cell Phones .........................................................................................................51
Automobiles ........................................................................................................52
How Do Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Compare? ..............................................................53
4 How Mobile Networks Work ...............................................................................55
Understanding Cellular Phone Technology ..........................................................56
Cells in a Network ..............................................................................................56
Carrying a Two-Way Radio ................................................................................57
Pulling Some Gs ......................................................................................................57
1G ........................................................................................................................57
2G ........................................................................................................................58
3G ........................................................................................................................59
4G ........................................................................................................................59
Sharing a Mobile Data Connection with Your PC ................................................60
External Data Modems ......................................................................................61
Tethering Your Smartphone ..............................................................................61
Powering Your Home Network with Your Cellular Signal ..............................63
Mobile Data Versus Wi-Fi: Choosing One or the Other .....................................64
Mobile Service and Bluetooth: Learning to Co-Exist ..........................................64
vi WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE
II Setting Up a Wireless Network
5 Planning Your Network and Purchasing Equipment .......................................67
Planning Your Network ...........................................................................................68
Making a List .......................................................................................................68
Mapping the Network ........................................................................................69
Adding the Necessary Network Equipment ....................................................70
Creating Your Network Equipment List ...........................................................72
Choosing a Wireless Router ...................................................................................72
What a Router Does ...........................................................................................72
Understanding the Nomenclature—And the Specs .......................................73
Examining 802.11n Routers ..............................................................................74
Examining 802.11ac Routers .............................................................................75
Evaluating Ethernet Performance .....................................................................77
Considering Other Features ..............................................................................77
Choosing Wireless Adapters ..................................................................................78
USB Adapters ......................................................................................................79
Internal Adapters ................................................................................................80
Choosing Network Interface Cards and Ethernet Cables ...................................81
Upgrading Your Current Network .........................................................................81
Where to Buy Networking Equipment ..................................................................82
6 Installing a Wireless Router .................................................................................85
Before You Start ......................................................................................................86
Making the Physical Connections ..........................................................................88
Setting Up and Configuring the Router ................................................................92
Advanced Router Setup ..........................................................................................94
Opening the Dashboard ....................................................................................94
Navigating the Dashboard ................................................................................95
Key Settings ........................................................................................................95
Upgrading from an Existing Router .......................................................................97
7 Connecting to the Internet ...............................................................................101
Understanding Internet Connections ..................................................................102
Broadband DSL ................................................................................................102
Broadband Cable .............................................................................................102
FiOS Broadband ...............................................................................................103
Broadband Satellite..........................................................................................103
Choosing the Right Internet Connection for Your Network .............................104
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Connecting the Internet to Your Network ..........................................................104
Connecting with a Wireless Router ................................................................104
Connecting with a Combination Modem/Router .........................................106
Setting Up a Public Wi-Fi Hotspot ......................................................................107
Turning Your Wireless Router into a Wi-Fi Hotspot .....................................107
Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot with a Wireless Access Point ...........................108
Security Matters: To Share or Not to Share? .....................................................109
8 Extending Your Network in a Larger Home or Office .................................113
Revisiting Transmission Range .............................................................................114
Upgrading to a More Powerful Router................................................................114
Connecting a More Powerful Antenna ................................................................115
Connecting a Wireless Range Extender .............................................................116
Connecting a Second Wireless Router ...............................................................118
9 Connecting Devices via Ethernet .....................................................................121
How Ethernet Works .............................................................................................122
Speeds Vary ......................................................................................................122
Ethernet Routers ...............................................................................................122
NIC’s Picks .........................................................................................................124
Cable Time ........................................................................................................125
When an Ethernet Connection Makes Sense .....................................................126
Speed Matters ..................................................................................................126
Reliability Matters .............................................................................................127
Security Matters ................................................................................................127
There’s No Wireless Option ............................................................................128
Connecting via Ethernet to a Wireless Network ................................................128
10 Securing Devices on Your Network ................................................................131
Facing the Potential Dangers of Wireless Networking .....................................132
Different Types of Intrusions ...........................................................................132
How to Tell If Your Network Has Been Breached ........................................133
How to Protect Your PC from Intrusion .........................................................133
Protecting Against Internet Intrusions with a Firewall .......................................134
OS-Based Firewalls...........................................................................................135
Using Third-Party Firewall Software ...............................................................135
Using Router-Based Firewalls ..........................................................................135
Enabling Wireless Security on Your Router ........................................................136
Different Types of Wireless Security ..............................................................137
Configuring Your Network for Wireless Security ..........................................138
viii WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE
Limiting Access to Your Network ........................................................................138
Changing the Router’s SSID ............................................................................138
Changing the Password ...................................................................................139
Disabling SSID Broadcasting...........................................................................140
Protecting Against Malware .................................................................................140
Understanding Viruses and Spyware ..............................................................141
Practicing Safe Computing ..............................................................................141
Using Anti-Virus Software ................................................................................142
Using Anti-Spyware Software ..........................................................................144
III Connecting Devices to Your Network
11 Connecting Home Computers ..........................................................................147
Connecting Computers to the Network .............................................................148
Connecting Windows 8 Computers ...............................................................148
Connecting Windows 7 Computers ...............................................................149
Connecting Windows Vista Computers .........................................................150
Connecting Windows XP Computers .............................................................150
Connecting Macs ..............................................................................................151
Dealing with Network Locations, Workgroups, and HomeGroups
in Windows .............................................................................................................152
Setting a Network Location .............................................................................152
Selecting a Workgroup ....................................................................................153
Creating a Windows HomeGroup ..................................................................153
Configuring File and Printer Sharing ...................................................................154
Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 8...........................................154
Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 7...........................................156
Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista ....................................156
Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows XP ........................................156
Enabling File and Printer Sharing on a Mac ..................................................157
Accessing Other Computers on Your Network ..................................................158
Accessing Computers from a Windows PC ...................................................159
Accessing Computers from a Windows HomeGroup ..................................160
Accessing Computers from a Mac .................................................................160
Managing a Windows Network ............................................................................160
12 Connecting a Home Server ...............................................................................163
What Is a Home Server, and Why Do You Need One? ....................................164
Exploring the Many Uses of a Home Server ......................................................164
Home Server or NAS: What’s in a Name? ..........................................................165
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
Shopping for a Home Server or NAS ..................................................................166
Determining Storage Capacity .......................................................................167
Choosing Networking and Backup Functionality .........................................167
Selecting an Operating System ......................................................................167
Making the Purchase ........................................................................................168
Configuring Your Server .......................................................................................169
Using Your Server for Media Storage .................................................................170
Backing Up to a Home Server .............................................................................170
Connecting to Your Server from the Internet.....................................................171
13 Connecting Videogame Devices ......................................................................173
Why Would You Want to Connect a Videogame Device
to Your Network? ..................................................................................................174
Wi-Fi Versus Ethernet: What’s Best for Gaming? ..............................................175
Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................176
Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................176
Connecting an Xbox 360 Console.......................................................................177
Is Your Xbox Wireless? ....................................................................................177
Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................178
Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................178
Connecting a PlayStation 3 Console ...................................................................178
Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................179
Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................180
Connecting a Nintendo Wii Console ..................................................................180
Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................180
Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................181
Connecting a Portable Videogame Device ........................................................182
Configuring Your Network for Optimum Gameplay .........................................183
Getting Faster Broadband...............................................................................183
Upgrading Your Router ....................................................................................184
14 Connecting Other Entertainment Devices .....................................................187
The Many Ways to Consume Web-Based Media in Your Living Room ..........188
Connecting an Internet-Capable TV to Your Network ......................................189
Connecting a Blu-ray Player to Your Network ...................................................191
Connecting an Audio/Video Receiver to Your Network ...................................193
Connecting a Network Media Player to Your Network .....................................195